Longest-serving auxiliary volunteer at Evangel honored

June 19, 2012 | Paul K. Logsdon

Some people will volunteer for a short time, then move on to a new cause. That’s not the case with Marjorie (Perkin) Compton, who has been an Evangel University Auxiliary member since the school’s beginning in 1955.

Compton, a Springfield, Missouri, native, was honored recently with the Second Mile Award from the auxiliary. “Since 2000, the auxiliary has given this special award to a member who has gone ‘above and beyond’ what is required — but it is not given every year,” says Shirley Shedd, Evangel’s archivist and long-time auxiliary officer.

The Second Mile Award has been given just four times prior to this.

“It is presented when the auxiliary executive board feels that an individual has made faithful, dedicated contributions over a number of years and in a number of areas,” says Shedd.

The Evangel University Marching Band in their first parade, Christmas 2011, in Springfield, Missouri. Their uniforms were provided by the Evangel University Auxiliary.

According to Anne Spence, Evangel’s first lady, “Marge has dedicated her time and energy to each of our fundraising projects throughout the years. She has served many terms as an officer in the national auxiliary organization and has been a blessing from the very beginning.”

The most visible auxiliary project in the Springfield community is the “Colossal Sale,” held annually in May to raise funds for scholarships and special projects. This year’s event raised more than $15,000.

Other projects have ranged from the massive pipe organ in the Chapel to uniforms for the new marching band.

Compton explained how she first became involved.

“My mother was a founding member and signed me up in 1955,” says Compton. “I was living in New England, though, so I wasn’t able to attend those first two meetings.”

Soon, her husband, Troy, became involved in the Evangel Men’s Council, and the family began building vacations around Evangel events.

“It was a highlight for us each year,” says Marge, who hasn’t missed an annual meeting since 1965.

“We caught the vision right away,” she says. “We were interested in Evangel for our own kids.” All three of their children are Evangel alumni.

“Frankly, it’s where we would have gone if Evangel had been available just a few years earlier,” she says.

— Paul K. Logsdon, director of public relations and publications at Evangel University

About Evangel

Evangel is an accredited, liberal arts university with more than 100 academic programs on the cutting edge of today's professional fields. Our commitment to the integration of faith, learning and life attracts students from a wide variety of Christian denominational backgrounds who have a strong commitment to academics with a desire to combine their Christian faith with every aspect of their lives.